Editor's Note- May 2016

Author: Maggie Washo

I fall into the latter category. Having children was never on my radar or to-do list. Everyone kept telling me I would change my mind, but deep down I knew that childbirth was one adventure I was fine not experiencing. As a woman, choosing not to have children is not necessarily the norm, and so I’ve spent some time thinking about the whys. Was I born without some sort of mothering gene? Did I just not meet the person I was meant to procreate with? Do I think the world would be a better place without a bunch of mini-Maggie’s running around?

You know what I’ve come up with? I don’t want to raise kids because it looks exhausting. And expensive. And heart-breaking. Especially if your kid grows up to be a career criminal or an axe-murderer. I have taken the easy way out, and I will readily admit that. I’m selfish.

Parenting is not for the faint-hearted, and my hat is off to everyone who has walked (or is currently walking) that road. What a self-sacrificing thing it is to bring a person into this world, and take full responsibility for raising him/her into a productive member of society. I recently took my eight-year-old nephew (minus the parentals) to Disney World for a long weekend. I was completely blown away by how kind, thoughtful and thankful he was over the course of the four days we spent together. When we returned home, I made a point to tell my brother what an amazing job he and his wife had done thus far of raising their son. “It’s our job to make sure we don’t raise an a$$hole,” he joked. “The world has enough of those.”

I chuckled, but he was spot on.

This issue is the first we’ve ever dedicated to the topic of children and parenthood, and I expect it will be the first of many to come. It was entertaining to put it all together, and I especially enjoyed reading the profiles of local moms and dads and the advice they wish they had received prior to becoming parents. (Page 70) We’ve peppered in some humorous (page 45), heart-warming (page 57), and honest (page 79) articles concerning the raising of children, along with the important stuff, like where to ship them off to camp this summer (page 83) for some peace and quiet!

In closing, I would just like to say THANKYOU to anyone who has raised children, and especially to my own mom and dad. You’re doing the only work that really matters, and I salute you.
Until next month…

About Us

In September of 2006, Celebrate Hilton Head (CH2) burst onto the scene with a fresh perspective on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the surrounding Low Country. At the helm was a team of young women (all under 30!) with no experience whatsoever in the publishing industry. The first year they made up the rules as they went along. CH2 (and CB2 – Celebrate Bluffton and Beyond), has evolved into a well-respected publication with over 150 advertisers and a distribution to over 47,000 locals and visitors each month.

Content ranges from Interesting Islander profiles and arts and entertainment pieces to food and wine topics and Hilton Head and Bluffton Business Profiles. CH2’s Bachelor of the Year Contest has blossomed into a greatly anticipated media event every year with viral marketing (i.e., Facebook, Twitter) contributing to the annual readership of those issues pertaining to the contest and over 700 people attending the Bachelor of the Year party held every October held at a local Hilton Head or Bluffton entertainment spot.

CH2 strives to give back to the community in which they have been so successful by sponsoring charitable events in both Hilton Head Island and Bluffton (Bluffton’s MayFest, put on by the Bluffton Rotary), donating editorial space to worthy organizations (Bold Strokes, Volunteers in Medicine, March of Dimes), and making the Hilton Head Island Rec Center the recipient of monies raised in conjunction with the Bachelor of the Year Contest.